Eat locally – help needed

Being a daily activist includes what you eat. How you buy your food, prepare your food, and with whom you share that food. Where that food is grown and the costs and risks of moving it to your table is critically important on so many levels. Statista published an infographic on where local eating is considered … yea, it was a survey of some sort, so all the data validity issues exist … but there’s a story here that Americans need to hear.

Statista includes a short snippet about why UN thinks eating local is important:

According to the United Nations, global food systems as well as food packaging and distribution are responsible for more than a third of greenhouse gas emissions in the world. In order to limit the impact on the environment, the UN recommends consuming more foods of plant origin, which are less resource-intensive than those of animal origin, and to buy products produced locally to restrict emissions linked to transportation.

Statista https://www.statista.com/chart/33268/regional-food-importance/

Ask AI

How does an LLM AI respond? – Here was the prompt: what are the scientifically proven benefits of eating local food in the US?

  1. Higher Nutrient Content: Local food is often fresher because it doesn’t have to travel long distances, which means it retains more nutrients. For example, fruits and vegetables picked at their peak ripeness are richer in vitamins and minerals1.
  2. Reduced Environmental Impact: Local food production typically involves fewer transportation miles, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to a smaller carbon footprint2.
  3. Support for Local Economy: Buying local food supports local farmers and businesses, keeping more money within the community and helping to sustain small-scale agriculture.
  4. Food Safety: Shorter supply chains mean less handling and processing, which can reduce the risk of contamination and foodborne illnesses.
  5. Seasonal Eating: Eating locally encourages consuming seasonal produce, which can lead to a more varied and balanced diet.
  6. Community Connection: Purchasing local food fosters a connection to the source of your food, promoting transparency and trust between consumers and producers.

One of the key factors often cited about less affluent people NOT eating locally is the cost. It’s just cheaper to eat processed and imported food. The same LLM AI replied with this.

Maybe it’s not the more expensive to eat locally, so there must be other factors keeping local food out of American kitchens. That same LLM AI gave these factors.

What to do

Look at those 6 factors. Any of those you can work on in your daily life? Pick one and carry on! Help yourself, help your neighbors to eat more local food … the earth and its farmers will thank you!

Featured image generated by MSFT CoPilot